18 DPP App_C 1/10/05 2:23 PM Page 31. }C Polar

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1 18 DPP App_C 1/10/05 2:23 PM Page 31 }C Polar Polar is a RAM-based, loop-style recording module that can be used in conjunction with normal audio track recording or as a self-contained, independent recording window. Audio is recorded in multiple passes, either as individual takes or overdubbed and layered within the same take. Polar is similar to the Cycle Record feature discussed in Chapter 7 but offers more control over how audio takes are recorded and managed. For example, once you have successfully recorded passes within Polar, you can print them as individual audio tracks or merged (mixed) into a single soundbite. Keep in mind that Polar is RAM-based; you should plan your sessions accordingly, by freeing up as much RAM as possible. Rather than being immediately created on your hard drive, created Polar audio passes are placed and held in memory (RAM) until you decide to print them. The amount of memory being used by your Polar session is shown within the Memory Used display, located directly above the main waveform display. Be sure to check out the Polar QuickTime movie tutorial on the CD-ROM included in this book to see the Polar window in action. Interface Before we dive into the how to of recording with Polar, let s take a look at some of the components of the user interface. This window may seem overwhelming at first glance, but it s fairly straightforward once you get the hang of it (see Figure C.1). Specific instructions for working with these and other Polar features are explained later in this appendix. 31

2 18 DPP App_C 1/10/05 2:23 PM Page 32 APPENDIX C} Polar Figure C.1 Digital Performer s Polar window. I/O Assignments and Levels Located at the top-left and right corners of the Polar window are the Input and Output assignment sections. You can specify either mono or stereo I/O configurations; the configuration you choose will determine the available assignments within the drop-down menus. The I/O listed within these menus are dictated by your connected hardware interfaces and are the same as the I/O assignments available to normal audio tracks. In addition to any hardware I/O, internal busses (provided they are enabled in the Audio Bundles window) and Rewire input channels are also listed. Like with normal audio tracks, input levels are dictated by your audio interface. Output levels for recorded passes can be adjusted with their own dedicated volume controls. The large volume control located below the main waveform display affects the output level of the current (selected) pass. To adjust the overall output level of Polar, use the Master level control located below the Output section of the window. Transport Controls and the Memory Cycle Feature Polar s transport can operate independently or be linked to the main transport. When unlinked that is, when the Link play button to main transport option is turned off transport playback functions are totally separated. When the option is turned on, however, the windows will become linked. Pressing the Play button (or Space bar) in either Polar of the Control Panel will engage playback. 32

3 18 DPP App_C 1/10/05 2:23 PM Page 33 Q Interface Whether linked or unlinked, the Record button is always independent. This allows you to record in an audio track without recording in Polar, and vice-versa. The number 3 key on the numeric keypad of your computer keyboard will affect only the main transport. Use the Commands window to customize keyboard and/or MIDI controls for Polar. In addition to hands-on transport controls, you also need to specify the record in and record out points for your Polar session with Control Panel s Memory Cycle feature. Once you enable the Memory Cycle button and begin recording, Polar will loop between the specified start and end times, creating seamless record passes. See Chapter 7, Recording Audio, or the included Overdub and Cycle Record QuickTime movie tutorial for info on the Memory Cycle feature within Digital Performer. Passes Each take that is recorded within Polar s looping environment is called a pass. Passes can be created each time the transport loops, or they can be stacked into a single pass. The length of a pass is determined by the Memory Cycle s start and end times (or loop in and loop out points). Once a pass is created, its length cannot be altered from within the Polar window. This is why it s important that you specify the correct in and out points before you begin recording. You can create passes of different lengths by simply changing the Memory Cycle s start and end times. Keep in mind that passes will always be recorded into the current pass. The current pass is the pass that appears in the main waveform display. Passes will be listed by pass number in the bottom half of the Polar window. Individual controls for muting, grouping, volume, and panning are displayed for each recorded pass (see Figure C.2). Figure C.2 Recorded passes appear in the Pass list, located below the main waveform display. In this example, Pass #3 is the current pass. 33

4 18 DPP App_C 1/10/05 2:23 PM Page 34 APPENDIX C} Polar Manual Passes The Create New Passes section determines how new passes are created during Polar s recording process. To create a pass manually, press the Manually button. Once you ve pressed the Manually button, the only way to create a new pass is to press the New button (located next to the Delete button). Use the Manual Pass feature to have passes stacked or overdubbed into the current pass. Triggered Passes Turning on the Trigger by record gate button will allow you to automate the creation of new passes. As with a normal gate, Polar will create a new pass when the Record Gate is triggered by an input signal and will punch out of recording when the signal falls below the designated threshold. The Record Gate settings are located below the Create New Passes section. They are as follows: Q Record Gate Threshold. This setting determines when recording will start and stop. When the input level crosses the set threshold value, recording will begin. When the signal falls below this setting, recording stops. You might need to play the quietest part of your performance in order to set this properly. If the threshold is set too high, recording will not begin when you need it to. Setting it too low, however, will cause recording to start and stop prematurely, which may cause a record take to be chopped up into multiple passes. Q Release. This setting tells Polar how long to keep recording after the signal has fallen below the threshold and recording stops. A low value will cause DP to immediately stop recording, while higher settings will keep the gate open longer, preserving any audio that occurs after the signal falls below the specified threshold value. Q Attack Preservation. Use this option to preserve any audio that occurs right before the Record gate is triggered. This will prevent audio from being clipped as the gate is opening. Groups Each pass within Polar is assigned to a group. You can manually change the group number by typing directly into the pass s Group column within the Pass list. Like many of Polar s features, group assignments can be automated. Located to the right of the current pass s waveform display are options for controlling groups within Polar. The Auto increment group button will automatically assign new passes to a new consecutive group. Use the Assign new passes to group option to assign passes on the fly to a specific group number. Use the Commands window for further remote control over entire groups (and refer to Chapter 5 for more information). 34

5 18 DPP App_C 1/10/05 2:23 PM Page 35 Q Interface Solo, Mute, Volume, and Pan Polar provides a number of basic mixing controls for controlling passes. Each pass within the Pass list contains separate controls for adjusting volume, for panning, and for muting a take. These controls are somewhat small, so DP conveniently provides larger controls for the current take; these are located below the main waveform display. There is also a Mute previous passes button (located to right of the main waveform display) that will automatically mute a pass when a new one is created. History Clicking the History button will open Polar s independent History window (see Figure C.3). This is an incredibly useful feature, one that makes Polar a truly independent recording environment within Digital Performer. This window operates exactly like the main project Undo History window, except that the Polar Undo History list is not saved but is discarded when you close the Polar session. Keep in mind that the Undo Pruning preferences determine how actions are saved within the History list. You can click the Pruning Preferences button or choose Digital Performer menu > Preferences to open the Undo Pruning preferences. Check your Pruning settings before you begin a session in Polar if you intend to use its independent Undo functions (see Figure C.4). Figure C.3 Click Polar s History button to open its independent History list. Unlike the main Undo History, the Polar Undo list is discarded when sessions are closed. Figure C.4 Be sure to configure Polar s Pruning Preferences! Ignoring these settings cause Undo actions to be unnecessarily discarded from the Polar Undo History. 35

6 18 DPP App_C 1/10/05 2:23 PM Page 36 APPENDIX C} Polar Recording As discussed earlier, there are two ways to record with Polar: manually and triggered. Regardless of which mode you use, begin by configuring the I/O assignments and other relevant options, such as linked playback, auto increment groups, mute previous passes, and so on. Keep in mind that each Polar session (or pass) is unique, and you may need to change these settings multiple times during the recording process. Also, don t forget to set the Undo Pruning preferences before recording! Polar can be used in conjunction with any existing audio or MIDI tracks. You can, for example, loop record within Polar while listening back to previously sequenced MIDI data. To make this process even easier, engage the Link play button to main transport feature. If you want to record in Polar without listening to other tracks, disengage this feature and use Polar s transport controls for playback and recording. In many ways, recording into Polar is the same as recording into an audio track. Procedures for setting levels in the Audio Monitor window, configuring the built-in metronome, and configuring I/O are the same. Simply apply what you learned in Chapter 7, and you ll be loop recording within Polar in no time at all. To manually record within Polar: 1. Open the Polar window from the Studio menu. The default keyboard shortcut is Shift+P. 2. Make the necessary I/O assignments. 3. Engage and set the Memory Cycle s start and end time. Remember that this determines the length of the pass, and it cannot be changed once it is recorded. 4. Confirm that the Manually button is turned on in the Create New Passes section of the Polar window. 5. Press Polar s Record button to begin recording a new pass. Polar will continually loop between the designated start and end times, while stacking any audio that is input into the Polar window. 6. Press the Record button again to stop recording into the current pass. If the transport is linked, you can also use the Space bar to stop recording and playback. 7. To continue recording and create a new pass, click Polar s New button. 8. Once a new pass is created, it will automatically appear in the main waveform display. To trigger-record within Polar: 1. Repeat the manual recording from Steps 1-3 above. 2. Select the Trigger by record gate button from the Create New Passes section. 3. Set the Record Gate Threshold. Again, you may need to audition your performance (the input level) in order to properly set this value. 36

7 18 DPP App_C 1/10/05 2:23 PM Page 37 Q Managing Recorded Passes 4. Make any necessary adjustments to the Release and Attack Preservation options. There really isn t a be-all, end-all setting; you ll need to tailor these values to the specific type of sound you re working with. 5. Begin playback from the transport. You can also use the Space bar if Polar is linked to the main transport. 6. When the input signal crosses the record threshold, Polar will begin recording a new pass. 7. As soon as the input signal falls below the record threshold, recording will stop. 8. Steps 6 and 7 will continuously repeat as long as an input signal crosses the set threshold values. 9. When you are finished recording, stop the transport. Q SWITCHING BETWEEN MANUAL AND TRIGGERED RECORDING Be aware that you can switch between manual and triggered recording anytime during the recording process without having to stop the transport. Polar is very versatile in this respect, allowing you to customize your Polar session for your specific looprecording needs. Managing Recorded Passes Polar offers a number of features that help you manage your recorded passes, many of which will operate even while the transport is still looping. Deleting and Merging Passes To delete a recorded pass or passes: 1. Select the pass within the Pass List by clicking with the mouse. Once selected, it will be highlighted within a yellow box. Remember to Shift-click to make multiple selections. 2. Press Polar s Delete button. You can also use the keyboard s Delete key. 3. To quickly delete all recorded passes within the Pass List without making any selections, click Polar s Clear button. To merge recorded passes into a single pass: 1. Make any necessary volume and panning adjustments to the passes you wish to merge. 2. Select the passes. Remember to Shift-click to make multiple selections. 3. Press Polar s Collapse button to merge the passes together. Keep in mind that you can also merge your passes during the print process. This is discussed in the next section. 37

8 18 DPP App_C 1/10/05 2:23 PM Page 38 APPENDIX C} Polar Printing, Saving, and Loading Once you have recorded a Polar session, you will need to print to disk the passes you wish to keep. This process takes the passes that are stored within RAM and permanently saves them to disk as audio files. As with the normal Bounce To Disk command, printed audio files can be placed on individual tracks, combined as a single track, or saved without importing them into DP. Polar s Print Options window allows you to set the parameters for the Polar bounce (see Figure C.5). Q Channels. This option determines the channel format (mono or split stereo) for the printed pass. Best Fit will allow DP to choose the best format depending on the pass being printed. Q Resolution. Selects the bit depth (8, 16, or 24) for the audio files that will be created during the bounce. Figure C.5 The Print Options window determines how passes are printed to disk. Q Import. This setting determines what happens with any audio files that are created when passes are printed to disk. The Do not import option will create the necessary audio files and save them to disk without importing them into Digital Performer. The Add to Soundbites window option will import the created files into DP s Soundbites window. To place the newly created files within an audio track(s), choose Add to tracks named Polar. Q File Name. This option determines the name of any printed file. If multiple files are created in the bounce process, a sequential number will be added to the end of each file name (for instance, Audio file-1, Audio file-2, and so on). Q Create individual bites for each pass. Enabling this option will print each pass to its own track when using the Add to tracks named Polar import option. Q Use volume and pan settings. Choose this option if you want to preserve any volume and panning settings with the printed files. Q Only print selected passes. Use this option to print only selected passes. Remember that you can Shift-click to select multiple passes. 38

9 18 DPP App_C 1/10/05 2:23 PM Page 39 Q Managing Recorded Passes Q Destination. Click the Destination button to specify the location for files that are created in the print process. To print a recorded a pass or passes: 1. First, specify the Print options. 2. If you re planning to print volume and pan settings, then make sure you are happy with your Polar mix before you print. 3. Click the Print button. You can use either the main Print button or the Print button located within the Print Options window. To save (Save As) a Polar session: 1. You can save a Polar session anytime during the recording process. Simply click Polar s Save button. 2. If this is the first time you are saving, you will be prompted to name the Polar session and choose a destination for the Polar document. 3. To save the session with a different name or in a different place, click the Save As button. Name the session and choose the destination for the document. Use the Save As command to create an alternate version or backup copy of your Polar session. To load a saved Polar session: 1. Open the Polar window. 2. Choose the Load button and navigate to the saved Polar document (see Figure C.6). 3. Once the Polar document is selected, click the Open button to load the Polar session. Figure C.6 Digital Performer s Polar document icon 39

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